Category Archives: iPad

iPhone Photography for Parents: Apps That Will Make Your Life More Colorful Instantly

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The rapidly increasing photographic capabilities of the iPhone are beginning to rival those of standalone cameras. Apple’s flagship smartphone manages to pull off amazing iPhonography without the use of additional lenses and filters. That’s especially convenient for busy parents without a lot of time to fiddle with their camera equipment when trying to capture a moment in time. Here are four amazing iOS apps that will allow you to take stellar photos on the fly with your phone.

Instagram

While Instagram is more closely associated with nostalgic hipsters and the technorati, it’s really perfect for anybody who wants to take distinctive photos. It’s the kind of app that’s tailor-made for taking photos of the kids at the beach. Vacation photos just look better for some reason when they have a washed out, analog color palette created by a custom filter and some post-production effects.  A newer feature of Instagram is that you can import photo from your iphone’s photo album and edit them in Instagram.  I love this! Sometimes I just can’t get to Instagram quick enough to snap a shot using the Instagram app, but now I can snap the shot with the native camera app then import it into Instragram to edit and publish online.

Pros: It is very easy to view your photo with many different filters in just seconds.
Cons: As of now, there isn’t a way to access your Instagram photos via an online interface.  With the number of iPhone users using Instagram, this would be a great feature.

Instagram iPhone photograph example
Instsagram photograph - Click to enlarge

Hipstamatic

Much like Instagram, Hipstamatic allows parents to tweak the look of their family photos to achieve a timeless feel. The stock installation of Hipstamatic costs a mere $1.99, though the base functionality can be extended with “HipstaPaks” comprised of custom filters that run $0.99 a piece. I spent about $5 on “HipstaPaks” for purposes of this story.  Users can preview the add-on HipstaPaks and download the right digital lenses before a photo shoot or family trip, ensuring that you get the perfect look to match any given occasion.  The one thing that I wish Hipstamatic did like Instagram, is allow us to import photographs into the app.  That’s not in Hipstamatic’s plans for now though.
The photographs in the image to the right were all taken with Hipstamatic.  I just changed the film for each photograph. Unlike with Instagram, I couldn’t see the filter being applied to the photo as I lined it up so I didn’t know how the photograph was going to turn out.

Pros: Hipstamatic allows users to share a photo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,Tumblr, Flickr, and a Hipstaccount.
Cons: Not easy to switch between films (essentially filters).  You can’t import photographs from your iPhone photo album in order to apply Hipstamatic ‘effects’ to them.

Hipstamatic iPhone photo examples
Hipstamatic photographs - Click to enlarge

moreBeaute2

If you’re a busy, sleep deprived mom who still cares about looking good, moreBeaute2 should be right up your alley. Like a lightweight, mobile version of Photoshop that works automatically, moreBeaute2 snaps amazing pictures while removing wrinkles and dark under-eye circles immediately. In order to get rid of dark under-eye circles and wrinkles, just take a picture and tap the auto-correct button to look flawless in your photos. Like a mild form of airbrushing, it makes everyone look their best. This is one of my favorite iPhonography apps.. for obvious reasons!

Pros: moreBeaute2 can make the most tired mom look awake and fresh, instantly.
Cons: You can’t adjust color or contrast within the app.

moreBeaute2 iPhone photo app
Before | After - Click to enlarge
Software has an impressive ability to make up for the limitations of the underlying hardware that it’s running on, which is especially true when it comes to mobile photography. That’s not to imply that iOS devices are weak when it comes to the quality of their lenses. However, you can take far better pictures of the family with these programs by your side. For weary parents who rely on their trusty iPhone to act as their primary camera, these worthy applications are all you’ll ever need.
Do you have a favorite iPhone photography app?
Share with us in the comments below.  We love to learn about new and interesting apps!
Alicia Hagan, Editor
I was not compensated from any of these app companies, for this story. I purchased all of the apps mentioned above and all opinions are 100% my own.

Skype and FaceTime: The Differences

Gadgets, iPad, iphone, New posts, Technology, ,

[simple_series title=”All posts in the Skype Series”]

 

Do you wonder what the differences between Skype and FaceTime are?  Why should you use Skype over FaceTime?

When I was approached about becoming a Skype ambassador, I thought to myself “why would I want to use Skype regularly instead of FaceTime?”.

Skype Ambassador programJust by asking myself that question, I realized that I had subconciously blocked all of my PC owning family and friends, from my video call list.  Most of my family members own PC’s and do not own an iPhone or iPad.  Let’s just say they live simple lives.  Therefor, I can’t FaceTime with them.  I have cousins who have children that my kids would love to video chat with but until it clicked for me that we can all use Skype, I didn’t even consider it.  With Skype, my kids can chat with any family member who owns a PC, Android device, iOS device, or Mac.

While I love FaceTime for video chatting with my Dad and Sister who both own an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook, FaceTime does not allow me to chat with my PC loving friends and family.

Skype vs FaceTime Feature Comparison

Skype FaceTime
Video chat from PC/Windows Yes No
Video chat from iPhone/iPad/Mac/iOS Yes Yes
Video chat from Android Yes No
Let’s you know who’s available Yes No
Chat function Yes No
Group video calling Yes (Premium feature) No
Send files while you chat Yes No

These comparisons are valid as of May 2012.

Situation when using Skype rocks!

  • If you have a child who is graduating school soon,  Skype is a great way to help grandparents celebrate with you!
  • Include relatives in your child’s birthday celebration
  • Your kids can video chat with Mom or Dad when they are traveling
  • Read a bedtime story to your child when you are traveling
  • Bloggers, catch up with your blogging buddies between events via Skype!

 

Connect with Skype:

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Disclosure: While I am a Skype Ambassador, this post was not required.

iPad App Review: Kumon Uppercase ABC’s – Learn to Trace Letters

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App Review: Kumon Uppercase ABC's - Learn to Trace Letters
Learn to Trace Letters

The Kumon Uppercase ABC iPad app teaches sound and letter recognition of capital letters to preschoolers. Best enjoyed by children ages three to four, the Kumon Uppercase ABC’s iPad allows children to trace uppercase letters, hear the sounds the letters make, and associate them with a picture that begins with the sound to help integrate the learning of letter recognition with beginning reading skills.  These are skills children need to get ahead when entering Kindergarten.

The Kumon Uppercase ABC’s App uses interactive repetition to teach children how to write and recognize capital letters and offers them examples of the sounds.  Parents can choose to present letters at random, in alphabetical order, or in the Kumon order, where more difficult tasks are based on simpler ones.
Your child will first be shown the direction of each movement that makes up a letter.   Your child traces the letter with just the movement direction and no order directions, and last, your child draws the letter without direction or order instruction. This is a nice progression to make sure your child knows how to write each capital letter.  My five year old doesn’t have the finest of fine motor skills and got a little frustrated a few times because she has to stay within the outline for it to be correct.   Overall though, she loves the app and even though she knows all of the letters she can still benefit from the writing and fine motor skill practice the app offers.
Requirements: Compatible with the iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Alicia Hagan, Editor

iMommy iPad and iPhone App Review

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Does your child love playing with baby dolls or pets? Then he/she will love the iMommy app.  My daughter has been playing with iMommy today and she loves it.  When we launched the app for the first time, my daughter got to choose and customize a baby.  She customized her baby by changing her baby’s eye, hair, and clothing color.  She even got to choose a cute little design for her baby’s outfit!  After her baby was customized she was presented with a scrolling view of the different rooms/areas in which she could play with her baby.

imommy ipad app review

iMommy iOs app for children
iMommy bath time screen

There are six areas where her baby can play, sleep, and eat.  The different rooms/areas rotated across the screen allowing her to tap on the one that she wants to play.

My daughter’s favorite room is the playroom.  There are books and toys for her baby to play with.  She simply drags a toy or book into her baby’s hand or puts it by the baby and watches as her baby reacts with movement and sounds.  She can even tap on the radio in the playroom to play music for her baby.  The baby sounds are adorable.

Bath time is especially fun.  Madelyn enjoys turning the water on and off, giving her baby toys to play with in the bath tub, and cleaning her with soap and shampoo.

When she decides it’s bedtime for her baby, she goes to the nursery screen where her baby is in a crib.  She can tap on a teddy bear to have her baby snuggle with the teddy and click on a crib icon to rock the baby’s crib.  The lights turn on and off with the tap of a light switch.

Here is a brief video of my daughter playing with iMommy for the first time:

 

About iMommy
Kathy Shimmield, the genius creator of iMommy developed this game with her children in mind.  Her two youngest were especially interested in playing ‘Mom’ and it occurred to her that such a universal game as ‘pretend’ parental play, would translate into a great app.  Kathy searched the app store and was genuinely surprised to find no apps that addressed this type of imaginative play for younger children.  It took many months of research, learning as she went and focus but eventually ‘iMommy’ was born!
This game is ideal for kids ages 2-10 but is suitable for any age.  The focus of the game is to design and interact with your baby, the player can choose 4 different ethnicities of baby then they can change their babies hair, eye or outfit color. It’s up to them to take care of their baby and learn what makes the baby happy and what upsets the baby.  They have to feed, play, bathe and even change babies diaper!

iTunes rated TOP 100 in family category and I’m sure it will hit to 10 soon!

iMommy is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.

Download iMommy today and let the fun begin!


Alicia Hagan, Editor

Our Family Game Night Goes Digital with Discovery Bay Games Duo Pop iPad Games

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Duo Pop iPad games

My family’s been having the best time playing Discovery Bay Games Duo Pop iPad games lately.   I am not a big fan of sitting on the couch and watching a movie, like the rest of my family is, so whenever we are all together on a weekend night I suggest that we play games together.  While we love playing classic board games and those that aren’t so classic, we also love trying new games out. Both of my kids, 12 and 5, LOVED playing Duo Pop iPad games.  We play on the couch, on the floor, and at the kitchen table. You can even play in the car!  Perfect for road trips!

Duo Pop allows you to add more interactivity and friendly competition to a night of games with you family and friends. With many of Duo’s fun game apps for iPad, your family has the ability to “pop” its way to entertainment.

Highlights Hidden Pictures, a digital version of the puzzles from the popular children’s magazine, has been adapted to a game that even young children will enjoy. Children can search for hidden pictures themselves to see if they can spot all of the pictures in a set amount of time or compete against friends to see who can find the most pictures first.

Duo Pop iPad family game

For word game enthusiasts, Swoop offers a fast-paced, vocabulary-building game. Duo Pop allows families to play a party version of the game where players grab letters and earn points by building words and pitting them against words from other players. Even younger children can play this game by creating three and four letter words.

Trivia buffs will enjoy Guesstimation which provides a question, such as “how many times a week does a cow stand up and lie down?” and asks players to submit a guess. The player with the closest guess wins the round. Not only will your family have a good time, but you’ll learn some fun new facts as well.

All of the games you can play with Duo Pop offer an entertaining new way to bring life to family game night.

Connect with Discovery Bay Games:

 

Alicia Hagan, Editor

 

Disclosure: I was provided with Duo Pop for review purposes.  All opinions are 100% my own.